Heated Joystick

ABSTRACT

In some implementations, a joystick includes a control unit having a first surface and a handle positioned at an angle adjacent to the first surface. The handle can have a second surface and is operably connected to the control unit. The joystick can further include a heating element, a blower, and one or more vent openings in at least one of the first surface and the second surface. The blower can move air warmed by the heating element through the at least one vent opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/216,869, filed Dec. 11, 2018, which claims priority to U.S.Application Ser. No. 62/597,402, filed on Dec. 11, 2017. The disclosureof the prior application is considered part of the disclosure of thisapplication, and is incorporated in its entirety into this application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This document generally describes heated joysticks, and moreparticularly to heated joysticks for operating machinery, such aswheelchairs.

BACKGROUND

Joysticks are mechanisms that serve as machine/device interfaces thatusers are able to manipulate in order to operate any of a variety ofmachines and/or devices, such as vehicles (e.g., wheelchairs, planes),construction equipment (e.g., skid steer), remote controlled devices(e.g., remote control cars, remote control planes), electronic displays(e.g., video game controller, camera controller), and/or othermachines/devices. In general, joysticks have included an articulablehandle that extends from and is able to pivot relative to a base alongone or more axes. For example, joysticks can be unidirectional,bidirectional, or omnidirectional, depending on the arrangement of thehinged connection between the handle and the base. Joysticks includecomponents to translate joystick articulation into one or more controlsignals (e.g., electronic control signals, direct or indirect mechanicallinkage), such as sensors, potentiometers, strain gauges,

Joystick operation often requires precision control of the joystick inorder to ensure the machine controlled by the joystick operates in thedesired manner. However, joystick operators can experience discomfortand limited control or mobility when the hand operating the joystickbecomes cold. Hand sweat can also limit control of joysticks.

SUMMARY

This document generally describes heated joysticks—meaning joysticksthat include one or more elements for delivering heat to or around anoperator's hand, arm, and/or body more generally. For example, heatedjoysticks can include a joystick handle operably connected to a joystickcontrol unit and to a heating element and/or a blower situated inside acavity of the control unit, and/or situated in an adjacent externalheating unit that is operably connected to the control unit. Heat can betransmitted to an operator's hand, arm, and/or body more generally bywarming the air around the operator's hand, arm, and/or body. Forexample, the control unit and/or the handle can have one or more ventholes that allow passage of warm air directed from the heating elementthrough the vent holes by the blower. The vent holes can be designed andpositioned on the control unit and/or handle with any of a variety ofconfigurations (e.g., variety of shapes, sizes, angles, and/ororientations) to direct warm air onto the operator's hand, arm, and/orbody more generally.

Heated joysticks as described throughout this document can be used by avariety of operators (e.g., machinery operator, wheelchair operator), ina variety of different conditions (e.g., cold weather, refrigeratedwarehouse), and in a variety of different contexts (e.g., controller forwheelchair, controller for machinery, controller for vehicle, controllerfor remote device). For example, a wheelchair operator who is travellingoutside during cold weather conditions can use a heated joystick to warmhis/her hand so that it does not get cold, which can help the operatormaintain sufficient dexterity in his/her hand to continue to effectivelycontrol the wheelchair. Heated joysticks can not only help operators incold environments, but they can also aid operators who suffer fromcirculatory and/or other disorders that cause the operators' extremities(e.g., hands) to become cold under various conditions (e.g., moderatetemperatures, positioning of extremity relative to rest of body forextended period of time). Heated joysticks can help operators warm theirextremities during joystick operation, which can help operators continueto maintain a comfortable operating condition and to continue toeffectively control the joystick.

A variety of additional and/or alternate features are also possible withheated joysticks. For example, an additional forearm extension unit candirect warm air through vent holes in the forearm extension unit to warman operator's forearm in addition to warming the operator's hand. Thewarm air in the forearm extension unit may be provided by the sameheating element as is used for the warm air in the joystick, and/or by aseparate heating element present in the forearm extension unit. Forexample, in some cases a mutual blower can direct the warm air throughthe vent hole in the joystick handle and control unit, as well as theforearm extension unit. In other cases, a separate blower can beprovided to direct warm air through vent holes in the forearm extensionunit. Heated joysticks can be manufactured by original equipmentmanufacturers (OEMs), or can be retrofitted to preexisting (non-heated)joysticks. For example, joystick handles with venting can be retrofittedonto joysticks (e.g., replace existing joysticks) and heating units canbe retrofitted onto existing joystick control units. Such retrofittingcan be provided as kits containing joystick handles and external heatingunits that can be applied to preexisting (non-heated) control units.

In some implementations, a joystick includes a control unit having afirst surface and a handle positioned at an angle adjacent to the firstsurface. The handle can have a second surface and is operably connectedto the control unit. The joystick can further include a heating element,a blower, and one or more vent openings in at least one of the firstsurface and the second surface. The blower can move air warmed by theheating element through the at least one vent opening.

Certain implementations can optionally include one or more of thefollowing features. The control unit can include a cavity housing atleast one control element selected from a shaft, a gimbal, and a circuitboard. The joystick can further include an external heating unitpositioned adjacent to and operably connected to the control unit. Theblower can be located within the external heating unit. The heatingelement can be located within the external heating unit. The joystickcan further include a tube positioned within the cavity and operablyconnected to the external heating unit. The tube can be operable todirect air flow from the external heating unit through the one or morevent openings. The heating element can be located within the cavity ofthe control unit. The blower can be located within the cavity of thecontrol unit. The one or more vent openings can be located on thehandle. The one or more vent openings can be located on the controlunit. The one or more vent openings can be located on the handle and thecontrol unit. At least one of the one or more vent openings can includean aperture in the first surface of the control unit through which thehandle or a shaft connecting the handle to the control unit passes. Thehandle can be selected from a ball knob handle, a t-bar handle, astraight handle, a mushroom head handle, and a u-shaped handle.

The handle can include a distal portion having an elongated cylindricalshape with a distal tapered end and a proximal tapered end; and aproximal portion extending circumferentially from the proximal taperedend of the distal portion, thereby forming a fluted outer surface havinga greater radial cross section than the distal portion of the handle.The vent openings can be located on the distal portion of the joystickhandle. The vent openings can be located on the fluted proximal portionof the joystick handle. The vent openings can be located on the distalportion of the joystick handle and on the fluted proximal portion of thejoystick handle. The vent openings can be positioned circumferentiallyaround a central axis passing from the distal portion to the proximalportion of the joystick handle.

The joystick can further include a shield extending around from theshaft and adjacent to the first surface of the control unit. The shieldcan be frustoconical and extend circumferentially around the shaft. Theshield can be a diaphragm. One or more vent openings can be located onthe shield. The joystick can include a forearm extension unit adjacentto the control unit and comprising at least one vent opening. Thejoystick can include a forearm extension unit adjacent to the externalheating unit and comprising at least one vent opening. The blower can beoperable to move air through the at least one vent opening of theforearm extension unit. The joystick can further include a second bloweroperable to move air through the at least one vent opening of theforearm extension unit. The control unit can be operable to connect to amachine and provide information regarding position of the joystickhandle to the machine. The machine can be a wheelchair.

In some implementations, a joystick heating unit includes a heatingelement and a blower. The heating unit can be operable to connect to ajoystick control unit and move air out of the joystick control unitthrough at least one vent opening and toward a joystick handle.

Certain implementations can optionally include one or more of thefollowing features. At least a portion of the heating unit can beoperable to be inserted into the joystick control unit. The heating unitcan include a connector, a tube, or combinations thereof, operable to beinserted into the joystick control unit and direct air flow from theheating unit through at least a portion of the joystick control unit.The joystick heating unit can further include a forearm heating portionoperable to extend away from the joystick control unit when the joystickheating unit is operably connected to the joystick control unit. Theforearm heating portion can include one or more vent openings. Theforearm heating portion can be operably connected to the heatingelement. The forearm heating portion can include a second heatingelement.

In some implementations, a joystick handle includes one or more ventopenings.

Certain implementations can optionally include one or more of thefollowing features. The joystick handle can further include a distalportion having an elongated cylindrical shape with a distal tapered endand a proximal tapered end, and a proximal portion extendingcircumferentially from the proximal tapered end of the distal portion,thereby forming a fluted outer surface having a greater radial crosssection than the distal portion of the handle. The one or more ventopenings can be located on the distal portion of the joystick handle,the fluted proximal portion of the joystick handle, or a combinationthereof.

In some implementations, a kit includes the joystick handles describedin any of the preceding paragraphs.

Certain implementations can optionally include one or more of thefollowing features. The kit can further include a joystick control unitwherein the control unit is operable to connect to a machine and provideinformation regarding position of the joystick handle to the machine.

In some implementations, a method for retrofitting a joystick includescreating a first hole in a joystick control unit, and connecting anexternal heating unit to the first hole in the joystick control unit.

Certain implementations can optionally include one or more of thefollowing features. The method can further include removing a firstjoystick handle; and replacing the first joystick handle with a secondjoystick handle having one or more vent openings therein.

In some implementations, a method for retrofitting a joystick includescreating a second hole in a joystick control unit. and inserting aforearm extension unit into the second hole in the control unit.

Certain implementations of heated joysticks described throughout thisdocument can provide one or more advantages. For example, blowing heatedair through vents in the joystick or joystick control unit allows heatedair to directly warm parts of the hand needed for joystick control, andaids in drying any sweat on the joystick controlling hand. In contrastto contact-based heating elements that deliver heating to an operator'shand through direct physical contact between a heating element and theoperator's hand, which can limit the heat transfer to only the areas ofcontact, blower-based heated joysticks (as described though out thisdocument) can warm the operator's entire hand, which can increaseoperator comfort, dexterity, and overall ability to effectively use thejoystick.

In another example, targeted warming of the control hand can allow forgreater efficiency in using the heating unit and therefore reduced powerconsumption. Targeted warming also ensure the portions of thecontrolling hand most needed for precision control maintain mobility.Using targeted warm air as opposed to gloves or shields reduces chanceof interference with tactile control, hand sensitivity, hand andjoystick visibility, and mobility.

In another example, existing (non-heated) joysticks can be retrofittedwith external heating units and joystick handles to add heating to acontrol unit without having to replace the control unit or thedevice/machine/vehicle/controller more generally. This can permitoperators to add beneficial and advantageous heating without having topurchase a new OEM unit that was originally manufactured with a heatedjoystick.

In another example, by using blown warmed air to provide heatedjoysticks, the joysticks dry an operator's hand (creating drying effect)by the warm air blowing through the vent holes and over the operator'shand. Heated joysticks can additionally be manufactured out of materialsto absorb moisture from an operator's hand to further aid in drying theoperator's hand during operation.

In another example, forearm units can provide targeted warm air to theforearm of the operating arm of the joystick operator, which canincrease warmth, comfort, and mobility in the wrist and hand of theoperator.

For the terms “for example” and “such as,” and grammatical equivalencesthereof, the phrase “and without limitation” is understood to followunless explicitly stated otherwise. As used herein, the term “about” ismeant to account for variations due to experimental error. As usedherein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are used interchangeablyand include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

Also herein, the recitations of numerical ranges by endpoints includeall numbers subsumed within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2,2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, 5, etc.).

Other features and advantages will be apparent from the followingdetailed description and figures, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a side view of an example heated joystick.

FIG. 1B is a side view of an example heated joystick with an externalheating unit.

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of an example heated joystick.

FIG. 1D is an exploded side view of an example heated joystick.

FIG. 1E is an exploded perspective view of an example heated joystick.

FIG. 2A is a side view of an example heated joystick.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of an example heated joystick.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of an example heated joystick with aforearm extension unit.

FIG. 3B is a side view of an example heated joystick.

FIG. 3C is a bottom view of an example heated joystick.

FIG. 3D is a perspective view of an example forearm extension unit.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an example joystick handle.

FIG. 4B is a side view of an example joystick handle.

FIG. 4C is a top view of an example joystick handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is generally directed to heated joysticks, joystickheating units, and joystick (or other controller) handles. Heatedjoysticks can, for example, be useful for operating machinery and/orproviding information regarding position of the joystick handle to themachinery. Heated joysticks can be used in a variety of contexts, suchas being used to a vehicle (e.g., wheelchair, machinery), video gamingsystems, robotic vehicles, construction vehicles, and/or otherdevices/systems.

FIGS. 1A-1E depict an example joystick 100 that includes an examplejoystick control unit 110 and an example joystick handle 120 operablyconnected to the joystick control unit 110. The handle 120 can beconnected to the control unit 110, for example, through a shaft 170 thatis pivotally mounted to the control unit 110. The shaft 170 can runalong a central axis 105, for example.

The control unit can include a switch 140 (or other mechanism) forturning on heating controls to heat the joystick, and/or for turning ona display 150. The switch 140 can be any of a variety of mechanisms toturn/power on one or more features of the joystick 100, such as pushbuttons, toggles, sensors (e.g., conductive sensors, proximity sensors,touch sensors, motion sensors), voice activated switched (e.g.,microphone, speech and audio processor, speech recognition module,command interpretation modeling), and/or other types of switches. Thejoystick can include a display 150 that can visually output/displayinformation, such as time information, temperature settings for the airand/or heating element that can be adjusted by the user, ambienttemperature information (e.g., surrounding air temperature), and/orother parameters or information useful to the joystick operator. Thedisplay 150 can include one or more corresponding input mechanismsthrough which a user can adjust the settings of the joystick 100, suchas buttons, dials, keys, sensors, touchscreens, voice interfaces, and/orother user interface features.

The control unit can have a first surface 111, and the handle 120 can bepositioned at an angle adjacent to the first surface 111 of the controlunit 110. The handle 120 can have a second surface 121. The handle can,in some instances, have a proximal portion 125 and a distal portion 126.

One or more vent openings 130 can be formed in the second surface 121 ofthe handle 120 on the proximal portion 125 and/or the distal portion126, the first surface 111 of the control unit 110, and/or combinationsthereof. The vent openings 130 can have any of a variety of shapes,sizes, configurations, angles, and/or other characteristics. Forexample, at least one of the vent openings 130 can be an aperture in thefirst surface 111 of the control unit 110 through which the handle 120or a shaft 170 connecting the handle to the control unit 110 passes.

Warm air heated by a heating element (not shown) can be moved by ablower (not shown) through at least one of the vent openings 130, whichcan warm a user's fingers, hand, and/or arm while the user is operatingthe joystick 100. The control unit 110 can additionally and/oralternatively be operated with just the blower activated (without theheater turned on), to blow unheated/cool air on the user's hand, whichcan be used to dry the user's hand off and/or to cool the user. Thecontrol unit 110 may additionally and/or alternatively be operated withjust the heater activated (without the blower turned on), which maypermit conductive elements of the control unit 110 and/or the joystick100 more generally to radiate heat to the user without blowing air overthe user's hand (e.g., user may have dry skin and not want air to beblown in his/her hand to further dry it out). Heating elements andblowers can be contained within the control unit 110 and/or other unitsthat are attached to the control unit.

In some embodiments, an optional shield 160 can extend around the shaft.In some embodiments, the shield is frustoconical and extendscircumferentially around the shaft 170. The shield 160 can be positionedadjacent to the first surface 111 of the control unit 110. The shieldcan, in some embodiments, aid in keeping dust and other unwantedparticles out of a cavity 105 within the control unit 110. The optionalshield can also, in some embodiments serve to aid in directing warm airheated by the heating element toward the joystick handle 120 and/ortoward the operating hand of a joystick operator. In some embodiments,one or more vent openings may be located on the shield. In someembodiments, the shield can be a diaphragm. The cavity can comprise oneor more control elements, including a shaft 170, a gimbal 171, and acircuit board (not shown).

The heating element (not shown) can be positioned within a cavity (notshown in FIG. 1A) inside the control unit 110. A blower can additionallyand/or alternatively be positioned within the cavity, or in an exteriorhousing operably connected to the control unit cavity. The blowerdirects air warmed by the heating element through the one or more ventopenings 130. For example, the blower can direct warmed air toward thejoystick handle 120 and onto a user's hand controlling/holding thejoystick handle 120. In another example, the blower can direct warmedair towards a joystick operator's hand in an area around the handle.

Referring to FIGS. 1B-1E, the heating element and/or blower can besituated in an external heating unit 180 positioned adjacent to andoperably connected to the control unit 110. The external heating unit180 can be inserted into and/or affixed to the joystick control unit110. The external heating unit 180 can, for example, be connected to thecontrol unit 110 through a connector 181. Air warmed in the externalheating unit 180 can pass through the connector 181 into the cavity 105of the control unit 110. The air warmed in the external heating unit 180flows through at least a portion of the cavity 105 of the control unit110 and out of the one or more vent openings 130 toward the joystickhandle 120 and the user's hand. In some instances, the warm air from theexternal heating unit 180 can pass through the connector 181 into a tube190 inside the cavity 105 of the control unit 110. The tube 190 can bebent, angled, and/or positioned such that it can direct the warm airfrom the external heating unit 180 through the one or more vent openings130. The tube 190 allows the warm air to pass through the cavity of thecontrol unit 110 without adversely affecting items within the controlunit cavity such as circuit boards or other electronics.

In another example shown in FIG. 2A-2B, a joystick 200 includes aheating element 206 and a blower 207 within a cavity 205 in a portion ofa joystick control unit 210. The control unit 210 can include one ormore displays 250 and one or more buttons 241 for controlling themachine controlled by the joystick, the heating element 206, and/or theblower 207. The blower 207 directs air warmed by heating element 206through a vent opening 230 in the first surface 211 of the control unit210. The vent opening 230 is an aperture in the first surface 211 of thecontrol unit 210 through which a shaft 270 connecting the joystickhandle 220 to the control unit 210 passes. An optional shield 260 can bepositioned adjacent to the first surface 211 of the control unit 210around the vent opening 230. The shield 260 can extend along the shaft270 between the handle 220 and the control unit 210, and aid indirecting warmed air toward the handle 220. The shield 260 can beasymmetrically shaped and/or independently rotatable such that theshield 260 can be rotated to direct warmed air toward a specificlocation near the joystick or joystick handle 220 as desired by ajoystick operator.

Referring to FIGS. 3A-B, a joystick 300 can include a forearm extensionunit 385 for providing warm air to the forearm of a joystick operator.The forearm extension unit 385 can be positioned adjacent to the controlunit 310 and/or to an external heating unit that is adjacent to thecontrol unit 310. The forearm extension unit 385 can have a forearmheating portion 386 that includes one or more vent openings 331 and isoperable to extend away from the control unit 310 when the forearmextension unit 385 is operably connected to the control unit 310. Airwarmed by a common heating element can be directed by a common blowerthrough the one or more forearm extension unit vent openings 331 and theone or more vent openings 330 located on the first surface 311 of thecontrol unit 310 and/or the second surface 321 of the joystick handle320. In some embodiments, a first blower operates to move warmed airthrough the vent openings 330 of the joystick handle or control unit,while a second blower operates to move warmed air through the ventopenings 331 of the forearm extension unit, which may use the same ordifferent heating elements. A common heating element can warm air thatwill eventually passes through both the vent openings 330 and 331. Insome embodiments, a first heating element warms air that will eventuallypass through vent openings 330, while a second heating element warms airthat will eventually pass through vent openings 331. In someembodiments, the forearm extension unit 385 includes its own onboardheating element and/or blower that is separate from the heating elementand blower that warms air and directs warm air through the joystickcontrol unit 310 toward the joystick handle 320.

Referring to FIGS. 3C-3D, the forearm extension unit 385 can be anoptional independent unit that can be attached to or removed from thejoystick control unit 310 or, in other embodiments, the external heatingunit. As shown in FIG. 3D, an independent forearm extension unit 385 canhouse a common heating element and common blower that warms air anddirects the warm air through both the vent openings 331 on the forearmextension unit 385, as well as through connecting vent openings 332 on aconnecting portion 388 of the forearm extension unit 385. The connectingportion 388 can operably connect or plug into a joystick control unit310, as in FIG. 3C, and the air warmed by the common heating elementwithin forearm extension unit 385 can flow through vent openings 332 onthe connecting portion 388 and into the cavity of the control unit 310,then further through vent openings 330 on the first surface 311 of thecontrol unit, and/or on the second surface of the joystick handle 320.

Referring to FIG. 4A-4C, a joystick handle 420 including one on morevent openings 430 that can direct air projected to a base of thejoystick handle (e.g., from a control unit) to a user's hand. The handlecan be any shape of joystick handle, such as, for example, a ball knobhandle, a t-bar handle, a straight handle, a mushroom head handle, or au-shaped handle. The second surface 421 of the handle 420 can be made ofmaterials that provide grip and or absorbency to absorb sweat or otherfluids. In some embodiments, the second surface 421 of the handle 420 ismade of silicone, rubber, or other appropriate materials. In someembodiments, the handle can have a distal portion 426 having anelongated cylindrical shape with a distal tapered end 427 and a proximaltapered end 428. The handle has a proximal portion extendingcircumferentially from the proximal tapered end 428 of the distalportion 426 around a central axis 405, the central axis 405 passing fromthe distal portion 426 to the proximal portion 425. The proximal portion425 forms a fluted outer surface 429 having a greater radial crosssection than the distal portion 426 of the handle 420.

One or more vent openings 430 are located on the distal portion 426 ofthe joystick handle 420 to direct air received at the base of the handle420 through the body of the handle 420 and out to the user's hand(gripping or near the handle 420). The one or more vent openings 430 canbe located on the fluted proximal portion 425 of the joystick handle420. In some embodiments, vent openings are located on the distalportion 426 and on the fluted proximal portion 425 of the joystickhandle 420. In some embodiments, the vent openings 430 are positionedcircumferentially around a central axis 405, the central axis 405passing from the distal portion 426 to the proximal portion 425 of thejoystick handle 420. The vent openings 430 can be positioned, forexample, orthogonal to an imaginary circle 406 having the central axis405 as circle's center. Vent openings can be specifically configured andtailored, with different sizes, shapes, configurations, and angles, toprovide different distributions of air through the handle 420 and ontothe user's hand. For example, a user may select from among multipledifferent handles 420 each having different vent opening 430configurations to select an air distribution that is best suited for theparticular user. Various vent openings, such as orthogonal ventopenings, can provide particular focusing of the warmed air onto thehand of an operator that is operating the joystick, which can improvethe distribution of blown and/or heated air onto the user's hand.

Kits can be provided to retrofit existing joysticks (that do not haveheating and blower capabilities) with the heating capabilities describedthroughout this document. For example, retrofitting kits can include anexternal heating unit and/or a forearm adapter that can be added to anexisting control unit, and/or a joystick handle with vent openings todistribute air to the user's hand. In some embodiments, a kit caninclude a joystick handle having one or more vent openings as describedherein and/or an external heating unit as described herein. In someembodiments, a kit can include a forearm extension unit as describedherein. In some embodiments, methods for retrofitting a joystick with anexternal heating unit are provided herein. In some embodiments, a methodfor retrofitting a joystick includes creating a first hole in thejoystick control unit and connecting an external heating unit to thefirst hole in the joystick control unit. In some embodiments, connectingan external heating unit includes inserting a tube connected to theexternal heating unit into the first hole in the control unit. In someembodiments, retrofitting a joystick includes removing a first joystickhandle and replacing the first joystick handle with a second joystickhandle having one or more vent openings therein, such as the joystickhandles described herein. In some embodiments, retrofitting a joystickincludes creating a second hole in a joystick control unit and insertinga forearm extension unit into the second hole in the control unit.

The foregoing description is intended to illustrate exampleimplementations, which may be modified in any of a variety of ways,including adding, removing, and modifying features that are described.Furthermore, features from different implementations can be combined andadapted in any possible combinations and/or sub-combinations. Otheraspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A joystick comprising: a control unit having a first surface; a handle positioned at an angle adjacent to the first surface, wherein the handle has a second surface and is operably connected to the control unit; a heating element; a blower; and one or more vent openings in at least one of the first surface and the second surface, wherein the blower moves air warmed by the heating element through the at least one vent opening. 